Spacer for leaf springs



Alig. 25, 1936. w H, WALLACE 4 2,052,062

SPACER FOR LEAF SPRINGS Filed Oct. 28, 1935 ATTORNEY-5.

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES SPACER FOR LEAF SPRINGS William H. Wallace, Detroit, Mich, a'ssignor to Eaton Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application October 28, 1935, Serial No. 47,020

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improved leaf springs. More particularly it relates to wear and spacer elements adapted for use in composite leaf springs. v

This application is a continuation in part of applicants prior co-pending application for Leaf spring structures, Serial No. 28,663, filed June 2'7, 1935.

In this prior co-pending application is disclosed a leaf spring structure in which two substantially co-extensive primary leaves are used. In order to permit relative sliding movement longitudinally between these two substantially co-extensive leaf members, one of them is interrupted at its longitudinal central portion to form two separate sections, and is provided with means for guiding the separate sections during longitudinal movement. Means are provided for permitting a substantial variation in the effective length of one of these primary leaf members with respect to the leaf element with which it is associated. While the invention in the prior copending application referred to above is directed primarily to a leaf spring structure, the present invention is directed more particularly to a wear plate and spacing member adapted for use with the type of composite spring element illustrated and described in this prior co-pending application.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a spacer member adapted for guiding the longitudinal movement of the adjacent ends of a" two piece primary leaf spring element.

By reference to the prior co-pending application referred to above, it will be appreciated that substantial advantages obtain from the use of a composite primary leaf spring member in connection with the type of leaf springs referred to. It will be appreciated that the thickness of the primary leaf, which mainly influences the flexure properties of the spring, particularly within initial limits of deflection thereof, must be su fficient to hold the bushings, which anchor the spring ends, against turning in their respective eyes, and suffici'ent to prevent buckling of the main leaf when the spring is subjected to normal load. It will further be appreciated that the thickness of the main leaf must be predetermined to sustain the maximum permissible stress to which the spring may be subjected. It has been found, and the above mentioned prior copending application contemplates the provision of a leaf spring construction inwhich the main or primary leaf is provided with eyes at each of its ends and has a composite body portion formed of apair or more of longitudinally disposed nested leaves;

It will be appreciated that inasmuch as these leaf members making up the primary leaf of the spring structure are anchored at their ends at the same point, that as flexure of the spring as a whole takes place it is necessary that some longitudinal movement be permitted between the members or the inherent advantages of the composite construction are lost. In order to provide for such longitudinal movement, the lower of these two primary leaf members is interrupted in its longitudinal central portion to form a pair of separate sections and is provided with means for guiding the adjacentends of these sections during relative longitudinal movement, and also with means for preventing frictional wear of the adjacent ends of these sections from acting directly on the adjacent primary leaf member as relative movement between the leaves takes place. .It is a general object of the presentinvention to provide a wear plate adapted for use with leaf springs of this type, which serves the purpose of accurately guiding the adjacent ends of the leaf sections with which the wear plate is associated, and at the same time absorbs the frictional wear of the ends of these end members.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a wear plate construction adapted for use in. composite springs of this type which serves to space the leaves above and below the leaf sections with, which the wear plate is associated in order that longitudinal movement of the adjacent ends'of the leaf may take place relatively freely.

Still another object of the invention consists in the provision of a wear plate construction which not only serves to absorb the wear of the adjacent ends of the leaf sections with which it is associated, but also serves to maintain the ends of these leaf sections in predetermined longitudinal alignment.

Yet another object of the present invention consistsin therprovision of a Wear plate of this general type in which channels are provided at the sides of the wear plate and spacing members are locked within the channels in order that the wear'plate not only serves to absorb the wear, but also serves to provide means for spacing the adjacent leaves of the spring structure with respect to the leaf sections within which the wear plate is mounted.

Yet another object of the present invention consists in the provision of a wear plate construction of the type described above, in which the physical structure of the wear plate is such that flexing of the sprin will not cause any undue distortion of the wear plate per se.

Yet another object of the invention consists in the provision of spacing members associated with the wear plate, and the provision of means for permanently locking the spacing members thereto.

Many other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a leaf spring embodying the improved spacing member and wear plate showing the spring utilized for the purpose of interconnecting one of the chassis sills of an automobile with the axle thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation with portions broken away showing a leaf spring embodying the improved spacing element.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the improved spacing element in plan associated with a pair of leaf sections.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2 showing the mounting of the adjacent ends of the leaf sections with which the spacing element is associated.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2 showing the manner in which the improved spacing element is mounted with respect to the tie bolt which secures the spring leaves together.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the improved wear plate with the spacer elements removed.

With more particular reference to the drawing, it will be appreciated that the spacer element described herein is particularly adaptable for use with the type of spring described in detail in applicants prior co-pending application referred to above. In this type of leaf spring, a composite primary leaf is provided which is composed of a long leaf section I which extends from end to end of the leaf spring as a whole and which is provided at its ends with eyes 2. These eyes 2 serve to surround and grip conventional spring bushings 3. One of the spring bushings 3 is socured to the vehicle chassis frame side member of the automobile with which the spring is associated by means of a suitable pivot 4, and the opposite end of the leaf member is supported by means of a shackle 5, having one end pivoted to the frame side member and the opposite end passing through the bushings 3.

A second primary main leaf member is provided substantially co-extensive with the long leaf section I. This member comprises a rear leaf section 6 and a front leaf section I. The rear leaf section 6 has its end bent concentrically around the eye 2 in the rear portion of the long leaf section and is adapted to lie in nested relation with respect thereto. The forward leaf section 1 has a similar eye 9 formed concentrically with the eye 2 in the forward end of the primary leaf structure, and also surrounds the bushing 3 in the forward end thereof.

As is conventional in the alt, the long leaf section may have nested on the upper side thereof, a rebound plate l0 and the composite primary spring leaf may have on the lower side thereof a plurality of nested supporting or reinforcing leaves ll of gradually decreasing length as is conventional in the art. These superimposed nesting leaves are held in nested relation by means of a tie bolt 2 which extends vertically through suitable registering apertures in the longitudinal central portion of each of the leaves. The spring structure as a whole, as is conventional in the art, may further be retained in nested position by means of conventional spring clips l3 which secure the auxiliary leaves to the primary leaf. The spring as a whole is secured to the axle on which it is mounted by means of a conventional pair of U-bolts I4 which pass over the longitudinal central portion of the spring and are bolted directly to the axle, locking the axial central portion of the spring in position thereon.

By reference to the prior co-pending application referred to above, it will be seen that the leaf sections 6 and 'l are nested with respect to the main long leaf section and have their adjacent ends spaced from one another, substantially, when the spring is in normal position. As has been pointed out in this prior co-pending application, the pivoted end of the spring is subjected to more distortion than the shackled end thereof, and it is preferable to pivotally attach the longer leaf section to the pivotal mounting rather than to the shackled mounting in order to increase the strength of the structure as a whole and reduce the likelihood of failure.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the leaf section I has its end of substantially reduced width and is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, in this end portion, which slot serves to permit the passage of the tie bolt l2, and to permit of limited longitudinal movement of the leaf sections with respect to the bolt. The leaf section 6 likewise has its end I? of equally reduced width and normally lies in spaced relation to the adjacent end of the leaf section l.

The improved spacing element and Wear plate shown in perspective in Fig. 6 is preferably formed of relatively hard, stiff sheet steel in which the grain of the metal runs transversely to the length of the plate as a whole in order to prevent rupture or cracking of the sheet along the folded portions, particularly during forming thereof. This wear plate has a central body portion 20 and is bent to form channels 2| on each side thereof. These channels 2| have suitable slots 22 out in their outer side and bottom walls to permit reasonable longitudinal flexing of the wear plate as a whole without material flaring or distortion of the side walls of the channels thereof. The longitudinal ends of the main body portion 20 of this wear plate are provided with longitudinally extending tabs 23, which extend beyond the terminal ends of the channels 2| in order to prevent localization of the stresses applied on the wear plate in a definite transverse area thereof. The wear plate is provided with a suitable aperture 24 in its longitudinal central portion through which the tie bolt I2 is adapted to pass in order to anchor the plate in nested relation with the spring leaves with which it is associated. It will be seen by reference to the drawing that the channels 2| have their outer walls crimped inwardly and it is preferable that a portion of these walls adjacent at least one end of the channel be slightly flared outwardly so as to facilitate the entrance of the corresponding spacing key 25 thereinto during assembly therewith. It is further noted that the keys 25 are substantially trapezoidal in cross-section and it will be appreciated that as these keys are snapped into the channels, the crimped outer walls will grip them firmly and prevent longitudinal as well as transverse movement of the keys with respect thereto.

By reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that when the wear plate and spacing keys are mounted in position on the adjacent ends of the leaf sections 6 and 1, the effective vertical thickness of the keys 25 and the channel in which they are mounted is slightly greater than the thickness of the leaf sections 6 and l with which they cooperate. It will, therefore, be seen that these key elements serve to provide spacing means between the spring leaves above and below these leaf sections and facilitate relative longitudinal movement of the adjacent ends of the leaf sections 6 and 1.

Further, it will be appreciated that the main body portion 20 of the wear plate serves to absorb all abrasive wear which the adjacent ends of the leaf sections 6 and 1 might normally impose upon the main long leaf spring element I. This plate 20 serves to protect the long leaf element from the wearing action of the ends of the auxiliary spring leaves as they move longitudinally as the result of flexure of the spring as a whole. 'Further, it will be appreciated that the channels formed integrally on either side of the main body section of this wear plate, together with the keys 25 locked therein, serve to provide longitudinally disposed guideways in which the adjacent ends of the leaf sections 6 and 1 may move longitudinally and yet be maintained in aligned, nested relation with respect to the remainder of the spring leaves with which they are associated.

It will be understood that the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein is merely illustrative of one of the many forms which the inventive concept disclosed may take. Other and further modifications of the invention falling within the scope of the subjoined claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is: r

1. A spacer element adapted for use in composite leaf springs comprising a preformed. sheet metal stamping having the grain of the metal running transversely thereof.

2. A spacer element adapted for use in composite leaf springs comprising a body portion and channel members formed integrally therewith at the lateral sides thereof, said channels being slotted to permit longitudinal flexure.

3. A spacer element adapted for use in composite leaf springs comprising a sheet metal body portion having a pair of longitudinally disposed channels presented in the same direction at the sides thereof formed integrally therewith, the

grain of the metal running transversely thereof.

4. A spacer element adapted for use in composite leaf springs comprising a sheet metal member having longitudinally disposed integrally formed channels at the sides thereof and keys disposed in said channels.

5. A spacer element adapted for use in composite leaf springs comprising a sheet metal member having longitudinally disposed, integrally formed channels at the sides thereof, the grain of the metal running transversely of said member and keys disposed in said channels.

6. A spacer element for use in composite leaf springs comprising a sheet metal member having longitudinally disposed integrally formed channels at the sides thereof and keys locked in said channels.

7. A spacer element for use in composite leaf springs comprising a sheet metal member having longitudinally disposed, integrally formed. chan-- nels at the sides thereof and keys in said channels, said channels being crimped to lock said. keys in position.

8. A spacer element for use in composite leaf springs comprising a sheet metal body portion having longitudinally disposed, integrally formed channels at the sides thereof, and keys disposed in said channels, said keys being of trapezoidal cross-section whereby crimping of said channels serves to lock said keys in position.

9. A wear plate for use in composite leaf springs comprising a body portion having a pair of channels integrally formed at the sides thereof, said channels presented in the same direction, said body portion being substantially longer than said channels.

10. A wear plate for use in composite leaf springs comprising a body portion having channels integrally formed at the sides thereof, said body portion having longitudinally extending tabs at its ends extending substantially beyond the ends of said channels.

11. A wear plate for use in composite leaf springs comprising a body portion having channels integrally formed at the sides thereof, said channels being flared at their end portions to facilitate the insertion of keys therein.

12. A spacer element adapted for use in composite leaf springs comprising a body portion and channel members formed integrally therewith at the lateral sides thereof, the bases of said channels lying in the same plane and substantially parallel to the body portion of said element.

WILLIAM H. WALLACE. 

